US reassures the UK it will not repeat spy allegations

The U.S. has told the British government that it would not repeat accusations that it had helped former U.S. President Barack Obama to spy on President Donald Trump when he was running for the White House.

"We've made clear to the administration that these claims are ridiculous and they should be ignored and we've received assurances that these allegations will not be repeated," a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday, Reuters reported.

The accusations emerged earlier this week when Fox News judicial analyst Napolitano said that three intelligence sources told him that Obama had used the British GCHQ to wiretap Trump. The allegations were then repeated by White House press secretary Sean Spicer Thursday.

Earlier on Friday A GCHQ spokesperson described the allegations as "nonsense", "ridiculous" and should therefore be "ignored."

"Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct 'wire-tapping' against the then President-elect are nonsense. They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored," the spokesperson told CNBC.